Among 100 males with fragile X [fra(X)] or Martin-Bell syndrome, two have developed malignancies. The first case, a 57-year-old man with fra(X) expression in 12% of peripheral blood lymphocytes, developed a seminoma of the left testis at age 45 years and in the right testis at age 50 years. The second case, a 16-year-old white boy with fra(X) expression in 23% of lymphocytes, developed a mucin-producing adenocarcinoma of the colon at age 14 years. Because of the unusual nature of the tumors observed in these patients and in 2 other patients from the literature, we suggest that individuals with the fra(X) syndrome may be at increased risk of cancer.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of tumor necrosis factor on human sperm motility in vitro.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha) is present in elevated levels in peritoneal fluid from infertile women with endometriosis. The effect of TNF alpha on human sperm motility in vitro was evaluated utilizing peritoneal fluid from infertile women with minimal endometriosis containing 0, 100, 400, or 800 U of TNF alpha/ml as well as similar concentrations of recombinant human TNF alpha. No reduction in progressive and total motility was found at recombinant TNF alpha concentrations of 100 U ml. However, 500 and 1000 U of recombinant TNF alpha/ml caused a significant reduction in progressive and total sperm motility after 4 and 21 hours of incubation when compared with controls. Similarly, peritoneal fluid containing 100 U of TNF alpha/ml did not significantly reduce progressive and total sperm motility after either 4 or 21 hours of incubation; but peritoneal fluid containing 400 U of TNF alpha/ml reduced progressive sperm motility after 4 and 21 hours and total sperm motility after 21 hours of incubation. Peritoneal fluid with a TNF alpha concentration of 800 U/ml caused a significant reduction in both progressive and total sperm motility after 4 and 21 hours when compared with controls of TNF alpha-negative peritoneal fluid. The addition of polyclonal rabbit anti-TNF alpha antibody or 30-min heat inactivation at 56 C of TNF alpha-positive peritoneal fluid reversed the inhibitory effect on sperm motility. The ability of TNF alpha to cause a significant reduction of sperm motility in vitro suggests that this may be a mechanism for the infertility observed in women with minimal endometriosis.

Ascitic Fluid↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Health issues in journalism and reporting.

Journalists witness events and report the news. The gathering and presentation of this information may subject the journalist to a variety of physical and psychological hazards. Some health and safety risk factors are inherent within the profession: for example, stress associated with deadlines and reporting on events in dangerous climactic or social conditions. Survey data and information collected by professional journalism associations should be used to educate journalists and, whenever possible, to attenuate the risk factors. Some of the more common risks within the profession include those relating to travel, repetitive strain, and psychological stress.

Accidents, Occupational↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Nurses and PDQ: what's in it for you?

In March 1989, the National Cancer Institute's Physician Data Query (PDQ) celebrated its fifth year. PDQ, a computerized cancer information database, was created to enhance the communication and application of cancer research data to the oncology community. Because of the variety and currency of the information contained within the system, it can be an extremely valuable resource for cancer nurses and patients. Future enhancements of the system will provide nurses with even more material for patient teaching and self-learning. This article discusses the development of PDQ, reviews its content and objectives, and identifies its possible uses for oncology nurses practicing in a variety of patient care settings.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Implementation of an RIL-2/LAK cell clinical trial: a nursing perspective.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sexual behavior among U.S. high school students, 1990-1995.

CONTEXT: High rates of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV infection, among adolescents are major public health concerns that have created interest in trends in teenage sexual activity. METHODS: Nationally representative data from Youth Risk Behavior Surveys conducted in 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1995 are used to examine levels of sexual experience, age at first intercourse, current sexual activity and condom use at last intercourse among students in grades 9-12. RESULTS: The proportion of students who reported being sexually experienced remained at 53-54% from 1990 through 1995, while the percentage of sexually active students who used condoms at last intercourse rose from 46% to 54% between 1991 and 1995. Black students were more likely than white students to report being sexually experienced, being currently sexually active and having had four or more lifetime sexual partners; black students also reported a significantly younger age at first intercourse. Gender differences in sexual behavior were found more frequently among black students than among white or Hispanic students. CONCLUSIONS: Although levels of sexual experience for high school students in the United States have not risen during the 1990s, a very high percentage of students continue to be at risk for unintended pregnancy and STDs, including HIV infection.

Adolescent↗